Pedestrian zones (also known as auto-free zones and car-free zones, and as pedestrian precincts in British English) are areas of a city or town reserved for pedestrian-only use and in which some or all automobile traffic may be prohibited. Typical in shopping areas, town centres, places with tourism attractions and recreation/civic areas, where wide expanses of hard surface are provided for pedestrians to walk.

Contents

How to map

To map a pedestrianised road nothing other than a simple way is required. Add the highway=pedestrian tag to it and a name=* to make it complete.

Plazas

A closed way tagged with highway=pedestrian and area=yes is the common way to map squares and plazas. Draw the way at the outer limits of the area, possibly even connecting with surrounding walls, buildings, etc. If there are roads passing through the area, map them as usual and make connecting nodes at all intersections with the pedestrian area. Often other paths such as highway=footway will connect with the edge of the pedestrian area. However, note that few routers will route through the area, most will route around the edge of it.

Vehicle access

Vehicles may be allowed during special hours to unload merchandise, but are often prevented from entering by bollards.

Cycling may be allowed, depending on the country or local restrictions. This can be specified with bicycle=yes or bicycle=no.

For small paths which are too small for cars to pass (no real streets) use highway=footway instead.